This Life, I'm Raising the Right Man

Su Yaoguang and Jiang Jing were chatting and laughing as they returned home. On the way, they encountered three people, one wearing the clothes of a teacher from the academy, and the other two were Jiang Yihui and Xiao Yanci.

Jiang Yihui saw Su Yaoguang, his eyes full of disdain.

Xiao Yanci’s expression remained unchanged, stepping aside to make way for the two.

After Su Yaoguang carried the water home, she said to Jiang Jing, ”Go find out what those people are doing in the village. That guy with his eyes on top of his head is Jiang Yihui, he’s Jiang Yihuan’s brother and Zhong Lanhua’s son. The one who kept his head down is Xiao Ci, a servant bought by the Jiang Family.”

Jiang Jing had just arrived in the village a few days ago, but she had already witnessed several confrontations between Zhong Lanhua and Zhang Zhaodi. She also learned from Su Yaoguang that the two families were arch-enemies.

Now that Su Yaoguang asked her to gather information, she immediately agreed, carrying a basket and pretending to pick vegetables, while actually going near the Zhong Family to gather news.

Zhang Zhaodi had gone back to her parents’ home today, it’s uncertain if she’ll return. If it were previous years, she would definitely come back overnight, as in the past, mother and daughter had little money, and the gift brought to her parents’ home was just a dozen eggs. But things are different today, Zhang Zhaodi took home a pound of meat. Her money-minded uncle might just find a bit of conscience for the sake of the meat.

Not long after, Jiang Jing returned and spoke to Su Yaoguang who was preparing dinner in the kitchen: ”Yaoguang, I found out. The teacher came to the village to discuss with Zhong Lanhua about transferring Xiao Ci’s registration to that of a commoner, allowing Xiao Ci to study at the academy. He also said that if the Zhong Family lets Xiao Ci study, both the academy fees for Xiao Ci and Jiang Yihui would be waived.”

Su Yaoguang stirred the soup in the pot, her eyes lowered, she said, ”That’s not surprising.”

Even without her intervention, Xiao Yanci wouldn’t be content being just a servant, he would find any means to strive for his own future.

Yet, what does it have to do with her? In this life, she and he are unconnected. Whether he soars high or sinks into the depths, it has nothing to do with her.

”Auntie, you’re back.” Jiang Jing noticed Zhang Zhaodi entering.

Su Yaoguang, hearing Jiang Jing’s words, went out to greet her, seeing Zhang Zhaodi with messy hair and scars on her face, she quickly went over: ”Mom, what happened to you?”

Sitting by the stove, Jiang Jing only saw Zhang Zhaodi’s figure earlier and hadn’t noticed anything wrong. Hearing Su Yaoguang’s upset and tense voice, she followed out to see.

”Auntie, who bullied you?”

Zhang Zhaodi tidied her hair, trying to cover up: ”No one bullied me, who would dare? You know how fierce I am.”

”Mom, did Grandpa hit you?” Su Yaoguang frowned. ”You took a pound of meat there, and they still hit you?”

”No. I’m already a mother, why would they hit me? I went to help with some chores at my parents’ house and had a fall, that’s all.” Zhang Zhaodi said, ”You haven’t seen it, when I took a pound of meat back home, everyone in the village praised my filialness! I was quite glorious this time, not the least bit wronged.”

”Mom, clean up first, I’ll apply medicine for you afterwards.” Su Yaoguang said.

”Yaoguang, let me do it!”

”Alright.”

Jiang Jing fetched hot water for Zhang Zhaodi and mixed it with cold water. While Zhang Zhaodi was soaking, she brought clean clothes to Zhang Zhaodi’s room.

Zhang Zhaodi found it inconvenient to wash her hair, so Jiang Jing stayed to help her.

Zhang Zhaodi wiped her cheeks, smiling, ”This water is too hot, it’s blurring my eyes.”

Jiang Jing said, ”Yaoguang made hair nourishing cream this time, with some herbs that darken hair included. It’s something we made together, not sure how effective it is. Mom can try it, if it’s good, we can sell it for a decent price.”

”How’s that scar removal cream you’ve been working on?”

”It’ll be ready by tomorrow. We can let Auntie try it as well. You did fall quite hard, applying the scar removal cream will ensure there are no marks left.”

Once Zhang Zhaodi finished her bath, Jiang Jing dried her hair. After getting it half-dry, she applied medicine to her wounds.

”Mom, Jing’er, it’s time to eat.” Su Yaoguang said.

”Coming right away.” Jiang Jing responded.

Zhang Zhaodi saw the wild celery fried with meat, scrambled eggs with chives, and mushroom soup on the table, and said with concern, ”Did you fall into the pot, why make so much?”

”Mom, you fell like this, you need to replenish well.” Su Yaoguang said, ”Our family isn’t lacking food now. Just eat, if we run out, we’ll buy more.”

”Such a wasteful child.” Zhang Zhaodi muttered, picking up meat and giving it to Su Yaoguang, then to Jiang Jing with her chopsticks. ”You’re all so skinny, eat it all today, it’s not taste as good if left for tomorrow.”

Su Yaoguang and Jiang Jing also picked food for Zhang Zhaodi.

Zhang Zhaodi saw this, her eyes became red.

She buried her head eating, sniffed and put down the bowl, turning away: ”My nose is a bit stuffy, I’ll wash it.”

While Zhang Zhaodi was in the kitchen fetching water, Jiang Jing worryingly said, ”Yaoguang, was Auntie bullied?”

”My grandma and grandpa had three daughters and one son. Whenever Mom and my two aunts went back home, they were treated indignantly. This time Mom brought back a pound of meat, and I thought things would be better, but clearly some people aren’t worth associating with. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, let’s act as if we don’t know. It’s her unresolved issue, she has to reconcile it herself, no amount of advising will help.”

”I’ve seen many families that favor boys over girls. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re not welcomed, just don’t pay attention to them. Didn’t they say marrying off a daughter is like water that’s been spilled? Since it’s already spilled, why bother with them?” Jiang Jing said, ”Let’s hope Auntie realizes sooner not to dwell on it.”

Zhang Zhaodi came back, inviting them to eat: ”Why wait for me? Eat!”

At the entrance of Jiang’s house. Zhong Lanhua was seeing Mr. Yang out, saying: ”Sir, it’s getting late, perhaps you should stay at our place.”

”No need, I have relatives not far from here, I’ll stay there tonight and return to the city tomorrow. I’ve given Jiang Yihui and Xiao Ci three days off, use these days to sort out these matters, once settled, come find me at the academy.”

”Thank you, Sir, we’ll certainly handle it quickly.” Zhong Lanhua said with a smile, ”Take care.”

After Mr. Yang left, Jiang Yihui entered the courtyard with a cold face.

Zhong Lanhua looked at Xiao Yanci, smiling, ”You really have some skills, this few taels of silver weren’t spent in vain.”

Xiao Yanci cupped his hands, ”I’m fortunate to be taken in by Madam, had I ended up in another harsh family, I’d probably be leading a life worse than death.”

”It’s best you think that.” Zhong Lanhua turned to Jiang Yihuan.

Jiang Yihuan said, ”Mom, let’s eat first, discuss other things later.”

”Alright, let’s eat first.” Zhong Lanhua said, ”You arrived in a hurry, we haven’t had time to cook, come help with the fire.”